I honestly can’t believe it is almost mid-June. That’s a basic observation to make, but every time I look at my calendar I’m just as blindsided. Since it is practically summer, you may have noticed your skin and its needs are changing. If you, like me, live in New York City, you are probably sweating even more than usual and struggling to breathe because it smells like hot garbage. Warm weather means more time outside and more time inside with air conditioning. These extremes can wreak havoc on your skin and make conditions appear or worsen.
Now let’s do our best to treat our skin’s changing needs answering today’s question:
What changes should I be making to my skincare routine as the weather gets warmer?
SPF, obviously. By now I hope I don’t have to explain this. You should be wearing SPF everyday, even in the winter, but be extra diligent in the summer months. Reapply, reapply, reapply. The days are longer – that means more sun! SPF 30 at minimum. This is especially important if you are using acids or retinol, which make you more sensitive to the sun. Trust me, you don’t want a retinol burn. If you need help finding your perfect sunscreen, check out this issue.
Add an antioxidant. Antioxidants, like vitamin C, make your sunscreen work even better, by preventing free radical damage. Free radicals are unstable molecules that cause chain reactions that damage healthy cells and contribute to signs of aging, pigmentation and more. Antioxidants reduce inflammation, which is particularly helpful for acne and rosacea. A sliced apple that turns brown is the result of oxidation by free radicals. Don’t be a brown apple. On super sunny days when I’m going to be outside a lot, I double up on antioxidants. Antioxidants are also often found in moisturizers and sunscreens, but I recommend also using a dedicated serum.
Consider your cleanser and moisturizer choices. In most cases, your skin can retain its own moisture better in the summer months, so using a lightweight option will feel less heavy and greasy. You want to balance removing the grime and sweat, while supporting your skin’s natural moisturizing properties. Look for words like “oil-free” or “lightweight” – skip the heavy night moisturizers unless you are very dry. If you live somewhere hot and dry, like a desert climate, you can’t rely on humidity for that extra hydration, so you want to still make sure you are incorporating hydrating products, like cream cleansers, light face oils and mists throughout the day. If you’re oily or in a humid climate, skip moisturizer all together in the morning and use a moisturizing SPF. Gel and gel-cream cleansers and moisturizers will feel less heavy and have less potential for clogging. If you want hydration without the heaviness, this is a great time for hyaluronic acid serums.
Cleansers:
Moisturizers:
Extras:
Goodlight We Come In Peace Probiotic Serum (I’ve been using this under SPF in the morning. If you have a face, you need this serum.)
Pestle & Mortar Hyaluronic Acid Serum (my all-time favorite HA!)
Increase exfoliation. This doesn’t mean go wild. It means adding in an extra night or two to your current frequency. The mixture of sweat, humidity and products are a recipe for clogged pores and build up. You might notice texture changes, like bumps and whiteheads, in places where you sweat a lot, like your forehead and hairline. AHAs like lactic and glycolic are great for treating this. Just again, be extra diligent with sunscreen, as these products make your skin more photosensitive.
Keep showers short and not too hot – especially if you are showering more than once a day. Long, hot showers can over dry your skin, cause inflammation and even exacerbate eczema.
Don’t forget about the rest of your body. That goes for both body spf and cleansing. Apply sunscreen on any part of your body that’s exposed. Use an oil-based cleanser in the shower if you have trouble breaking down body spf. A physical scrubber or body exfoliant can also help. Just be sure to moisturize right out of the shower while your skin is still damp to replenish the moisture. Sunscreen on dry skin, though.
Necessaire The Body Wash & The Body Exfoliant
Double cleanse at night. I pretty much double cleanse every night, no exceptions, but this is especially important in the summer. Sweat, debris, pollutants and products build up throughout the day. Especially if you are wearing makeup and sunscreen, the extra cleanse is essential for breaking everything down so it can effectively be washed off.
Wear UV Protective Clothing. You can never have too much sun protection and UPF clothing is an excellent way to add in additional protection. Especially on beach days or with light colored clothing, covered skin can still get UV damage. I’m currently working on a roundup of my favorite UPF clothing, but here are some faves to get you started.
Change your pillowcases even more. If you need a refresher on the importance of changing your pillowcase, check out this earlier issue, which also has recommendations. Summer months present even more potential for sweat, grime and pollutant build up on your pillows and a major cause of summertime acne. Your nightly double cleanse will help with this too :)
Happy almost summer, everyone! Please be sure to subscribe and share this with anyone whose skin need’s a little seasonal pick me up. See you in 2 weeks! In the meantime, shop the shelf and send a question. You might just see it answered in a future issue (or get an email back from me if you catch me in the right mood!)
xoxo, Jolie
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